Monday, June 9, 2014

Sarawak is tightening its immigration
rules and stepping up scrutiny of visitors particularly from the peninsula to
keep out “extremists, religious bigots and racists”, Chief Minister Tan Sri
Adenan Satem said.

At a press conference to mark his
100 days as chief minister, Adenan (pic) said racism and religious intolerance
were “not in character with the people of Sarawak”.

“We have lived harmoniously all
these many years and it is my responsibility to see that we, people of all
races and culture, continue to live harmoniously together.

“May 13 never happened here. As far
as Sarawak is concerned, May 13 (race riots in 1969) was a distant thunder on
the other side of the hill,” said Adenan, who succeeded Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud
in February.

One way to safeguard the harmony in
the state, he said, was to keep religious fanatics and racists “of all colours”
out.

No officials would say how many
names are the “black list” of people banned from the state, but one name that
Adenan himself had said months earlier was on the list is that of Perkasa chief
Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

Perkasa is a Malay right-wing group
that had been fanning racial and religious tensions in the peninsula.

Adenan was responding to questions
on how he planned to achieve his vision of making Sarawak a “progressive,
vibrant and harmonious” state when the rumblings of religious and racial
intolerance were getting louder in the peninsula and could spread to Sarawak.

Even though immigration is a matter
under federal purview, Sarawak and Sabah have autonomy over immigration in
their respective states under the terms of the Malaysia Agreement and,
therefore, can bar anyone they deemed undesirable and a threat to the state.

Sarawak PKR vice-chairman See Chee
How, meanwhile, reminded Adenan that his 100-day “honeymoon” was not without
bitterness.

He said Adenan that he and his new
administration are perceived as interim and “a continuation of the old
administration that is under intense scrutiny and criticism locally and
internationally”.

He added that Adenan was seen as
playing second fiddle to Taib, who is now the Yang DiPertua Negeri.

“Adenan was given a lot of slack in
his first 100 days. He has enjoyed a high level of public support.

“The high hopes for what he will be
able to accomplish, the benefit of doubt given to him that his administration
will govern in ways that they like becomes a trust in the new chief minister
and in the promises that he made in his inauguration speech,” See said in a
statement.

“The new chief minister vows to be
a chief minister for all Sarawakians, to protect the popular aspirations for
state autonomy, special rights and privileges under the Malaysia Agreement, and
higher oil and gas royalty.

“He further promised to bar the
entry of racists and religious bigots and declared that there will be no
implementation of hudud in Sarawak and no seizure of Holy Scriptures (Bibles).

“All these bode well with the
general Sarawakians,” See said.

However, Adenan’s mantle as the
Barisan Nasional state chief was also being tested, See said, referring to two
senior ministers and about half a dozen assistant ministers who stirred
political unrest in the state BN in a mass exodus with their supporters from
their former parties to join a newly formed party.

See summed up Adenan's 100 days by
saying: “While there are no major accomplishments yet, there are also no
failures, disappointments or liabilities.

“The new chief minister must
deliver his promises and be the chief administration to fulfil the hopes of
Sarawakians that things can change and their lives will be improved under the
new administration.” – June 6, 2014.

- See more at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/sarawak-tightens-immigration-rules-to-keep-out-religious-bigots-racists#sthash.EFp5XU3h.dpuf

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